Why Buy From Orion

Beginner

Suited for a wide range of uses, Level 1 Beginner telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.

What do you do with a best-selling, fan-favorite telescope that has developed a dedicated following among amateur astronomers the world over? Here at Orion, we gave our popular XT8 Classic Dobsonian a serious makeover! Using the XT8 Classic as a starting point, we added top-notch features and accessories to create the Orion SkyQuest XT8 PLUS Dobsonian Reflector. This deluxe upgrade of our stalwart 8" reflector telescope boasts a redesigned Dobsonian base, adjustable altitude axis tension, a 2" dual-speed Crayford focuser, and a host of other upgraded features and included accessories to enhance your observing experience.

The sleek redesigned base of our SkyQuest XT8 PLUS Dobsonian not only looks great, it also features weight-reducing cutouts which help make the XT8 PLUS more portable than its XT8 Classic counterpart. The base is quite visible, even in the dark of night, thanks to its white trim. Topping the base (literally) is the big, 8"-aperture, f/5.9 reflector telescope optical tube with a unique, eye-catching metallic blue color. The XT8 PLUS features adjustable tension knobs on the altitude axis, which replace the tensioning springs found on the XT8 Classic model. These adjustable knobs make the XT8 PLUS more versatile, since you can now adjust the tension of the altitude axis of motion to allow use of heavier 2" eyepieces, Barlow lenses, multiple finder scopes, and other hefty accessories. With the altitude tension properly adjusted, using heavier accessories will not cause the optical tube to drift downwards during use.

The SkyQuest XT8 PLUS Dobsonian is built around an 8" (203mm) diameter parabolic primary mirror mounted in a sturdy, cast-aluminum support cell. The mirror collects 78% more light than a 6" mirror, so you get a significant increase in ability to observe dust lanes in nebulas, resolve the cores of prominent globular star clusters, and to reveal some of the more subtle structures in faint galaxies. The 1200mm focal length (f/5.9) XT8 mirror allows you to obtain clear and crisp views at moderate to high magnifications on clear nights with good seeing conditions. The Moon and planets of our solar system like Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars shine brightly in the Orion SkyQuest XT8 PLUS, allowing you to inspect them in high-resolution detail. Enhanced-reflectivity mirror coatings boost the XT8 PLUS Dobsonian's mirror up to 94% reflectivity so as much light as possible is transmitted to the eyepiece, resulting in exceptionally bright, clear views. The point-and-view simplicity of the Dobsonian design is not as complicated as a telescope attached to an equatorial (EQ) mount and tripod. With a little practice, your whole family can use the XT8 PLUS Dobsonian telescope to scan the heavens just like experienced astronomers.

We've equipped the XT8 PLUS with a thorough set of top-notch accessories to enrich your stargazing experiences.

Fine-tune focus for peak performance with the dual-speed Crayford focuser

The big, 2" dual-speed Crayford focuser of the XT8 PLUS is a significant upgrade compared to the single-speed model on the XT8 Classic. A step-down 1.25" adapter is included to allow use of both 1.25" and 2" eyepieces. Thanks to the Crayford design, focus adjustments are smooth, accurate, and virtually free of backlash and flexure. With an 11:1 fine-focus ratio, you'll be able to make precise adjustments for sharp, crisply detailed views.

View at a variety of magnifications with two included eyepieces and a Shorty 2x Barlow

The big, 2" 28mm DeepView eyepiece will help you obtain expansive 42x views, while the included 1.25" 10mm Sirius Plossl ocular will provide close-up, 120-power observations. For even more powerful views, use the included 1.25" Shorty 2x Barlow lens to double the power of any 1.25" eyepiece. You can use the Shorty 2x Barlow with the 10mm Sirius Plossl eyepiece to achieve a very powerful, 240x view.

Explore the fun of daytime astronomy with the included Safety Film Solar Filter

In addition to stargazing at night, you can also use the XT8 PLUS Dobsonian during daytime hours thanks to the included Safety Film Solar Filter, which lets you safely observe sunspots as they march across the surface of our nearest star. The solar filter rejects all harmful light from the Sun, while allowing a very small fraction of light to pass through, so you can safely enjoy the fun of daytime solar astronomy.

Like all reflector telescopes, the XT8 PLUS will likely require minor periodic maintenance to make sure its optical mirrors are aligned, or "collimated". To make collimation adjustments nice and easy, we've outfitted the XT8 PLUS Dobsonian telescope's secondary mirror with knurled thumbscrews so you don't have to hassle with tools to align the reflecting optics of the telescope.

Bright white base trim helps avoid accidents in dark conditions

Since stargazing is best when it is very dark outside, there is always a chance of accidentally bumping into or tripping over pieces of equipment that are hard to see in low-light conditions. To help avoid such mishaps from ruining your next observing session, we've made the base of the XT8 PLUS easy to see, even in the dark of night, thanks to its highly visible white trim.

You can keep one 2" eyepiece and up to three 1.25" eyepieces at-the-ready with the included eyepiece rack. It's easy to aim the XT8 PLUS easily and accurately with the included Orion EZ Finder II reflex sight. Also included are a quick collimation cap, dust caps for the reflector telescope tube and focuser, and download card for a FREE special edition of Starry Night astronomy software - a $69.90 value!

For easy transport and storage, the Orion XT8 PLUS telescope can conveniently be broken-down into two separate pieces. By unthreading the two altitude tension knobs from the Dobsonian base, you can detach the 46.5" long reflector optical tube and transport each piece separately. With an assembled weight of 42 lbs., the XT8 PLUS is a lot of telescope offered at an amazingly affordable price.

Media Buzz

Sky at Night magazine, January 2014
"The XT8 PLUS is a well thought-out package that offers a good option for a first scope. All the accessories essential to getting started are included, while the detailed instructions will make the learning curve much easier for a first-timer."

"The scope arrived in two boxes with all the tools you need to put it together provided. Doing this is a one-person job - within an hour we had the scope assembled, collimated, and ready to go. "

"The supplied Safety Film Solar filter ... delivered a detailed, high-contrast and neutral white image, revealing an incredible network of sunspots and even granulation, despite the poor seeing at the time we tested it."

Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for one year from date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. For complete warranty details contact us at 800-676-1343.

Warning

Please note this product was not designed or intended by the manufacturer for use by a child 12 years of age or younger.

User level

Level 1 Beginner - Suited for a wide range of uses, these telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.

Level 2 Intermediate - These scopes offer higher performance and more advanced features than Level 1: Beginner models. They typically take a bit longer to learn and need some set-up or adjustments. But anyone with the slightest technical bent will have no problem getting familiar with these models. Referring to the manual is recommended.

Level 3 Advanced - These scopes provide the best performance but may require more skill to master and appreciate. They have exceptionally fine optics and mechanics. Some are easy to use but are but on the large or heavy side. Some are intended for specialized uses. These scopes will appeal to the more technically inclined. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Level 4 Expert - Expert telescopes offer uncompromising optical and mechanical quality for the most demanding amateur astronomer. They may be technically involved or designed for specialized use, such as astrophotography or detailed deep sky observation. They carry a premium price, but are designed to provide the ultimate performance in the field. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Optical design

Reflector telescopes use a pair of large and small mirrors to direct incoming light to the eyepiece.
Refractor telescopes refract, or "bend" incoming light to a focus by means of an objective lens.
Cassegrain telescopes, such as Maksutov-Cassegrains, "fold" incoming light using two mirrors and a front "corrector" lens.

Optical diameter

For telescopes, the optical diameter (also known as aperture) is the size of a telescope's main light-collecting lens or primary mirror, measured in millimeters or inches. Telescopes with larger optical diameters collect more light, which leads to an increase in brightness and image resolution compared to smaller instruments.

For binoculars, the optical diameter (also known as objective lens diameter) is the size of each of the front-facing objective lenses of a binocular measured in millimeters. Binoculars with larger objective lenses collect more light, which increases image resolution and brightness. Binoculars with larger objective lenses are recommended for low light situations, and binoculars with at least 50mm or larger objective lenses are recommended for pleasing astronomical observations at night.

Focal length

The distance from the center of a curved mirror or lens at which parallel light rays converge to a single point. The focal length is an inherent specification of a mirror or lens and is one of the factors in determining resultant magnification for a telescope (along with the focal length of the eyepiece being used).

Focal ratio

The focal ratio of an optical system is the ratio of a telescope's focal length to its aperture. Short focal ratios (f/5, f/4.5) produce wide fields of view and small image scales, while long focal lengths produce narrower fields of views and larger image scales.

Optics type

Newtonian reflectors will have either a spherical shaped mirror, which is less expensive to produce, or a higher quality parabola, which does not result in spherical aberration. Cassegrain telescopes routinely use spheres in addition to other lenses in the optical path to correct for residual spherical aberration.
Refractors use a series of lenses to provide a clear image. Designs range from a standard air-spaced doublet (two lenses in a row) to exotic designs such as oil-spaced triplets and 4-element multi group lenses.

Glass material

Refractors use glass lenses to focus the light, and the glass material plays an important role in the quality of the resulting image. Standard achromatic refractors routinely use Crown and Flint for the two elements, but more expensive apochromatic refractors can use ED (extra low dispersion) glass for one or more of the lenses. Reflector mirrors are made from glass with different levels of thermal expansion. Standard mirrors are made from material such as Soda-Lime Plate glass and BK-7 glass. Glass with Pyrex or other low thermal expansion material will not change shape as dramatically during the cool-down period, resulting in more stable images during this period.

Resolving power

The theoretical resolving power of a telescope can be calculated with the following formula: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 4.56 divided by aperture of telescope (in inches). In metric units, this is: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 116 divided by aperture of telescope (in millimeters). Note that the formula is independent of the telescope type or model, and is based only upon the aperture of the telescope. So the larger the telescope's aperture, the more it is capable of resolving. This is important to keep in mind when observing astronomical objects which require high resolution for best viewing, such as planets and double stars. However, it is usually atmospheric seeing conditions (not the telescope) which limits the actual resolving power on a given night; rarely is resolution less than one arc-second possible from even the best viewing locations on Earth.

Lowest useful magnification

Lowest useful magnification is the power at which the exit pupil becomes 7mm in diameter. Powers below this can still be reached with the telescope to give wider fields of view, but the image no longer becomes brighter at a lower power. This is due to the fact that the exit pupil of the telescope (the beam of light exiting the eyepiece) is now larger than the average person's dark adapted pupil, and no more light can fit into the eye.

Highest useful magnification

The highest practical limit is different from the often used "highest theoretical magnification" specification. The "theoretical" limit generally is 50x the aperture of the scope in inches (2x the aperture in mm). So for example, an 80mm refractor is capable of 160x, and a 10" telescope is theoretically capable of 500x magnification.
But after approximately 300x, theory breaks down and real world problems take over. The atmosphere above us is constantly in motion, and it will distort the image seen through the telescope. This effect may not be noticeable at lower powers, but at higher powers the atmosphere will dramatically blur the object, reducing the quality of the image. On a good night (a night where the air above is steady and the stars aren't twinkling), the practical upper limit of a large telescope is 300x, even thought the theoretical limit may be much higher. This doesn't mean the scope will never be able to reach those higher "theoretical" powers - there will be that rare night where the atmosphere is perfectly still and the scope can be pushed past it's practical limit, but those nights will be few and far between.

Astro-imaging capability

The astro-photographic capability of the telescope is based on the style, stability, and accuracy of the mount and tripod. Telescopes on either very lightweight mounts or non tracking mounts (such as Dobsonians) are capable of only very short exposures such as lunar photographs. If a motor drive is attached to an equatorial mount, even a small lightweight mount is capable of capturing some planetary detail. Larger EQ mounts that utilize very precise tracking and excellent stability are capable of longer exposure deep-sky photography.

Computerized compatibility

Some mounts are compatible with a motorized Go-To system for fully automated computer finding of objects in the night sky. Others mounts are compatible with computer finding systems which require the user to manually move the mount to the object's position as indicated by the computer finder.

Warranty

This warranty gives you specific legal rights. It is not intended to remove or restrict your other legal rights under applicable local consumer law; your state or national statutory consumer rights governing the sale of consumer goods remain fully applicable.

Orders received by 1pm Eastern Standard Time for in-stock item the same business day. Order received after noon will ship the next business day. When an item is not in-stock we will ship it as soon as it becomes available. Typically in-stock items will ship first and backordered items will follow as soon as they are available. You have the option in check out to request that your order ship complete, if you'd prefer.

A per-item shipping charge (in addition to the standard shipping and handling charge) applies to this product due to its size and weight. This charge varies based on the shipping method.

The SkyQuest XT10 is a very affordable intermediate Dobsonian telescope. The stable base and included EZ Finder II make it easy to move the telescope and find objects. Its 10"-aperture parabolic primary optics gather a lot of light for bright views.

Orion offers a rugged, fully padded, case to fit just about every telescope we stock. It provides an easy way to transport and store your telescope. Heavy-duty and water-resistant material, and fits the SkyQuest XT8, XT8 intelliscope and XT8G.

The affordable MoonMap 260 is a must-have for any backyard astronomer. The laminated map includes both a correct and reversed view of the Moon and identifies over 260 popular lunar features including craters, valleys, mountain ranges, and more!

Would you like more contrast and less glare while viewing the moon and bright planets? The 1.25" Orion Variable Polarizing Telescope Filter reduces both and brings out details. And you can adjust the amount of light transmission for the perfect view.

Designed for use with Orion 4.5", 6", 8" and 10" Dobsonians, the Dob Dolly provides a rugged wheeled platform for your big telescope. Use the Dob Dolly to roll your fully assembled Dobsonian reflector from its storage spot for stargazing adventures!

Dob Pod attaches securely to the base of your compatible Orion Dobsonian reflector and raises the entire telescope a full foot upwards for more convenient and comfortable stargazing. Compatible with Orion 4.5", 6", 8" and 10" Dobsonians.

The Orion RedBeam Mini LED Flashlight is an essential astronomy accessory for reading star maps or looking inside your accessory case at night. It has an aluminum housing, rubber ON/OFF switch and includes batteries and key ring.

The Orion 6" - 10" Dobsonian Telescope Cloak will help protect your telescope while it's idle from dirt, moisture and sunlight. In the daytime it will keep your telescope cooler so it will reach thermal equilibrium faster once night falls.

The Black 8x40 Orion Achromatic Finder Scope is an affordable step up from your standard 6x30. You get more power and aperture, and with the fully coated achromatic optics the image is bright and sharp.

Speed up the cooling of your large reflector's optics with the Orion Cooling Accelerator Fan. This fan attaches to pretapped holes in the mirror cell and uses 8 D-cell batteries (not included) which allows it to run for up to 14 hours continuously.

"The XT8 PLUS is a well thought-out package that offers a good option for a first scope. All the accessories essential to getting started are included, while the detailed instructions will make the learning curve mush easier for a first-timer"-Sky at Night magazine, January 2014

At Orion, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and passion for astronomy and astrophotography with the amateur astronomy community. Visit the Orion Community Center for in-depth information on telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography. You can find astrophotography "how to" tips and share your best astronomy pictures here. Submit astronomy articles, events, & reviews, and even become a featured Orion customer!